NURS 505 is Liberty's MSN advanced health and physical assessment course. Its written work is a health history with genogram, a genomics presentation, a SOAP note, a cultural and spiritual assessment paper and two forums; the course closes with a proctored, videotaped head-to-toe examination.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as NURS 505 Advanced Health / Physical Assessment, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as NURS505.
What NURS 505 covers
The catalog description: This course focuses on comprehensive physical assessment which includes in-depth health history, physical and psychological signs and symptoms, developmental stages, pathophysiologic changes, and psychosocial and cultural characteristics of the individual, family, and community as client. Enhancement of communication and observational skills are emphasized along with the development of sensitive and refined interviewing techniques. Students must obtain a master's prepared nurse preceptor who will proctor their final exam which is a comprehensive head-to-toe physical assessment.
The course builds the assessment skills an advanced practice nurse or nurse educator needs, using Bickley, Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. The written assignments practice the documentation side of assessment: a full health history and review of systems on a volunteer, a focused SOAP note on skin, hair, nails and HEENT, and a paper on cultural identity, the CLAS standards and spiritual assessment.
Two requirements shape the schedule. The guide says you must obtain a master's prepared nurse preceptor to proctor the final head-to-toe exam, and the Bloodborne Pathogens form must be on file before the SOAP note is accepted. The head-to-toe video in Week 8 has no written component, so this site has no guide for it.
Textbook named in the published guide: Bickley, Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking (2017). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
NURS 505 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comprehensive Health History and Genogram | 150 | Formal paper (no page count set in the guide) with a genogram appendix |
| 2 | Genomics and Genetics Presentation | 125 | 15 to 20 slides, including the title and reference slides |
| 3 | SOAP Note | 100 | 3 to 5 pages, excluding the title and reference pages |
| 4 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words |
| 5 | Cultural and Spiritual Assessment Paper | 125 | 6 to 8 pages, excluding the title and reference pages |
| 6 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Thread at least 500 words |
Week 1: Comprehensive Health History and Genogram
A formal paper presenting a full health history and review of systems on an adult volunteer, with a genogram as an appendix. How to write NURS 505 Week 1 Comprehensive Health History and Genogram.
Week 2: Genomics and Genetics Presentation
A 15 to 20-slide PowerPoint applying the graduate genetic and genomic nursing competencies to a risk factor or condition, with 5 recent peer-reviewed articles. How to write NURS 505 Week 2 Genomics and Genetics Presentation.
Week 3: SOAP Note
A 3 to 5-page SOAP note on skin, hair, nails and HEENT for an adult volunteer, with theory, health promotion, family life stage, culture and evaluation sections. How to write NURS 505 Week 3 SOAP Note.
Week 4: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 500-word thread with at least one citation and two 250-word replies, in a Post First forum. How to write NURS 505 Week 4 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 5: Cultural and Spiritual Assessment Paper
A 6 to 8-page paper on your cultural identity, another culture, the nurse's role with the CLAS standards, and how to do a spiritual assessment. How to write NURS 505 Week 5 Cultural and Spiritual Assessment Paper.
Week 6: Discussion Board Forum 2
The second Post First forum: a 500-word thread with a citation and two 250-word replies. How to write NURS 505 Week 6 Discussion Board Forum 2.
How NURS 505 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The proctored head-to-toe assessment is 200 and must score at least B- (168 of 200) or the course grade can be no higher than a C. The health history and genogram is 150, the genomics presentation and the cultural and spiritual paper 125 each, the SOAP note 100, the two forums 50 each, and the midterm and final exams 100 each.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Health History and Genogram | 150 |
| Genomics and Genetics Presentation | 125 |
| SOAP Note | 100 |
| Cultural and Spiritual Assessment Paper | 125 |
| Discussion Board Forums (2) | 100 |
| Proctored Head-to-Toe Physical Assessment | 200 |
| Midterm Exam | 100 |
| Final Exam | 100 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach NURS 505
Line up two people in Week 1: the adult volunteer for your history, genogram and SOAP note (a friend or family member over 18 who is not a current clinical patient), and the master's prepared nurse preceptor for the final exam. Both take time to arrange.
The history is due in Week 1 and the SOAP note in Week 3, so interview your volunteer early and take careful notes; the same person can serve both assignments if the instructions allow.
Questions students ask
Who can I use for the NURS 505 health history and SOAP note?
An adult friend or family volunteer aged 18 or older who is not a current clinical practice patient and who can consent to the interview.
What score is needed on the NURS 505 head-to-toe exam?
At least B-, 168 of 200 points. Below that, the guide says the final course grade can be no higher than a C and the course must be retaken.
Working through NURS 505 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.